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Title: Discovery of Unusual Minerals in Paleolithic Black Pigments from Lascaux (France) and Ekain (Spain)

Abstract

Analyses of archaeological materials aim to rediscover the know-how of Prehistoric people by determining the nature of the painting matter, its preparation mode, and the geographic origin of its raw materials. This study deals with identification of manganese oxides in black pigments by micro-XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) based on previous TEM (transmission electron microscopy) studies. Complex mixtures of the manganese oxides studied are present in some of mankind's oldest known paintings, namely those from the caves of Lascaux (Dordogne, France) and Ekain (Basque country, Spain). Scarce manganese oxide minerals, including groutite, hausmannite, and manganite, were found for the first time in Paleolithic art at these archaeological sites. Because there are no known deposits of such minerals in these areas, more distant origins and trade routes are inferred. The closest known Mn-rich geological province for Lascaux is the central Pyrenees, which is {approx} 250 km from the Dordogne area.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
896410
Report Number(s):
SLAC-PUB-12224
TRN: US200703%%454
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76SF00515
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Contributed to 13th International Conference on X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS13), Stanford, California, 9-14 Jul 2006
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES; CULTURAL OBJECTS; FRANCE; MANGANESE OXIDES; ORIGIN; PIGMENTS; RAW MATERIALS; SPAIN; OXIDE MINERALS; Other,BIO

Citation Formats

Chalmin, E, /Marne la Vallee U., Farges, F, /Marne l Vallee U. /Museum Nat. Hist., Paris /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci., Vignaud, C, /Unknown, Susini, J, /ESRF,Grenoble, Menu, M, /unknown, Brown, Jr, G E, and /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci. /SLAC, SSRL. Discovery of Unusual Minerals in Paleolithic Black Pigments from Lascaux (France) and Ekain (Spain). United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Chalmin, E, /Marne la Vallee U., Farges, F, /Marne l Vallee U. /Museum Nat. Hist., Paris /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci., Vignaud, C, /Unknown, Susini, J, /ESRF,Grenoble, Menu, M, /unknown, Brown, Jr, G E, & /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci. /SLAC, SSRL. Discovery of Unusual Minerals in Paleolithic Black Pigments from Lascaux (France) and Ekain (Spain). United States.
Chalmin, E, /Marne la Vallee U., Farges, F, /Marne l Vallee U. /Museum Nat. Hist., Paris /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci., Vignaud, C, /Unknown, Susini, J, /ESRF,Grenoble, Menu, M, /unknown, Brown, Jr, G E, and /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci. /SLAC, SSRL. 2006. "Discovery of Unusual Minerals in Paleolithic Black Pigments from Lascaux (France) and Ekain (Spain)". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/896410.
@article{osti_896410,
title = {Discovery of Unusual Minerals in Paleolithic Black Pigments from Lascaux (France) and Ekain (Spain)},
author = {Chalmin, E and /Marne la Vallee U. and Farges, F and /Marne l Vallee U. /Museum Nat. Hist., Paris /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci. and Vignaud, C and /Unknown and Susini, J and /ESRF,Grenoble and Menu, M and /unknown and Brown, Jr, G E and /Stanford U., Geo. Environ. Sci. /SLAC, SSRL},
abstractNote = {Analyses of archaeological materials aim to rediscover the know-how of Prehistoric people by determining the nature of the painting matter, its preparation mode, and the geographic origin of its raw materials. This study deals with identification of manganese oxides in black pigments by micro-XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) based on previous TEM (transmission electron microscopy) studies. Complex mixtures of the manganese oxides studied are present in some of mankind's oldest known paintings, namely those from the caves of Lascaux (Dordogne, France) and Ekain (Basque country, Spain). Scarce manganese oxide minerals, including groutite, hausmannite, and manganite, were found for the first time in Paleolithic art at these archaeological sites. Because there are no known deposits of such minerals in these areas, more distant origins and trade routes are inferred. The closest known Mn-rich geological province for Lascaux is the central Pyrenees, which is {approx} 250 km from the Dordogne area.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/896410}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Wed Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}

Conference:
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